Accident on S.R. 97 Occurs When Vehicle Leaves Road
A rollover accident occurred in Yreka on January 14 when a vehicle went off the road. The collision occurred shortly after 3:00 a.m. along State Route 97 and Sheepy Creek Road. Officers with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) arrived at the collision scene to spot the lights of the vehicle off the roadway and found it along the right-hand side on its roof.
Authorities Speculate Icy Patches May Have Caused Rollover Accident
The lights on in the vehicle were very dim, so it may have been there for a while. Police blocked off the lanes to help the injured driver. It was speculated that the accident might have been caused by patches of ice in the area, and the rollover occurred on a blind curve on a hill. It was determined that the driver had suffered minor injuries in the collision. However, no information was released on whether the driver was taken to a hospital.
Causes of a Rollover Accident
Rollovers are among the most dangerous types of accidents. This is because although the airbags deploy initially, they soon deflate and offer no additional protection. In addition, seat belts are capable of withstanding 1,000 pounds of force, but a defect can make a restraining device let go, and the occupant inside is subject to being tossed around inside.
Vehicles More Likely to Roll Over in an Accident
Light trucks, vans, and SUVs are the most likely vehicles to experience a rollover. However, if the conditions are just right, any vehicle can be involved in this type of accident. One added disadvantage is that those who experience a rollover even while wearing seat restraints are more likely to suffer a partial ejection if they are riding in a van, light truck or SUV rather than other types of vehicles.
Dangers of Ejection
In a rollover, there is an increased risk of ejection from the vehicle, especially if the occupant is not wearing a seat belt or it is defective and breaks. Speed and the age of the driver is often a factor in an ejection accident with younger motorists involved in this type of injury/fatality collision. If the occupants of the vehicle are ejected and survive, they frequently suffer severe damage such as traumatic brain injuries and multiple fractures. Ejection from a vehicle during a collision is frequently fatal.
Added Danger in a Rollover Accident
In some rollover accidents, roof crush occurs. This happens when the supports and roof of a vehicle aren’t strong enough to stop it from caving in during a rollover accident. Although auto manufacturers must build their vehicles so the roof can hold up to 3.5 times the vehicle’s weight if a rollover occurs, not all of them do that. Instead of providing additional protection to those inside the vehicle, when the roof caves in, it reduces the survivability space of those inside and can cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage and other serious trauma.
Retaining the Vehicle
Since roof crush may be a factor in the severe injuries or fatalities of the occupants inside the vehicle during a rollover, it is important to retain the car/truck. In this way, engineers can examine the vehicle to determine if a defective part or roof crush could have contributed to the rollover accident. If defects or roof crush are found, the family or injured party may be able to obtain compensation from the manufacturer by filing an auto product liability claim.
Yreka Car Accident Lawyer
I am Ed Smith, a Yreka car accident lawyer. When negligence causes your injury accident, you might be able to claim compensation. Contact us for free and friendly advice at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400. We can be reached online also.
I am a proud member of Million Dollar Advocates and the Top 1 Percent.
Information on how our injury lawyers have assisted others in obtaining compensation for their accident injuries can be found at the links that follow:
Photo attribution: Image by Valter Cirillo from Pixabay
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